CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

1. The S.I. unit of power is

(a) Henry
(b) coulomb
(c) watt
(d) watt-hour
Ans: c
2. Electric pressure is also called
(a) resistance
(b) power
(c) voltage
(d) energy
Ans: c

6. The property of a conductor due to which it

passes current is called
(a) resistance
(b) reluctance
(c) conductance
(d) inductance
Ans: c
7. Conductance is reciprocal of
(a) resistance
(b) inductance
(c) reluctance
(d) capacitance
Ans: a

3. The substances which have a large number

of free electrons and offer a low resistance are
called

8. The resistance of a conductor varies

inversely as

(a) insulators
(b) inductors
(c) semi-conductors
(d) conductors
Ans: d

(a) length
(6) area of cross-section
(c) temperature
(d) resistivity
Ans: b

4. Out of the following which is not a poor

conductor ?
(a) Cast iron

9. With rise in temperature the resistance of

pure metals
(a) increases

(b) Copper
(c) Carbon
(d) Tungsten
Ans: b

(b) decreases
(c) first increases and then decreases
(d) remains constant
Ans: a

5. Out of the following which is an insulating

material ?
(a) Copper
(b) Gold

10. With rise in temperature the resistance of

semi-conductors
(a) decreases
(b) increases

(c) Silver
(d) Paper
Ans: d

(c) first increases and then decreases

(d) remains constant
Ans: a

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CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

11. The resistance of a copper wire 200 m long
is 21 Q. If its thickness (diameter) is 0.44 mm,
its specific resistance is around
(a) 1.2 x 10~8 Q-m
(b) 1.4 x 10~8 Q-m
(c) 1.6 x 108 Q-m
(d) 1.8 x 108 Q-m
Ans: c

(c) 800 Q
(d) 1000 Q
Ans: c

12. Three resistances of 10 ohms, 15 ohms and

30 ohms are connected in parallel.
The total resistance of the combination is
(a) 5 ohms
(b) 10 ohms
(c) 15 ohms
(d) 55 ohms
Ans:

(b) 36 Q
(c) 48 Q
(d) 64 Q
Ans: b

13. An instrument which detects electric

current is known as
(a) voltmeter
(b) rheostat
(c) wattmeter
(d) galvanometer
Ans: d

16. The resistance of a parallel circuit

consisting of two branches is 12 ohms. If the
resistance of one branch is 18 ohms, what is
the resistance of the other ?
(a) 18 Q

17. Four wires of same material, the same

cross-sectional area and the same length when
connected in parallel give a resistance of 0.25
Q. If the same four wires are connected is series
the effective resistance will be
(a) 1 Q
(b) 2 Q
(c) 3 Q
(d) 4 Q
Ans: d
18. A current of 16 amperes divides between

14. In a circuit a 33 Q resistor carries a current

of 2 A. The voltage across the
resistor is
(a) 33 V
(b) 66 v
(c) 80 V
(d) 132 V
Ans: b

two branches in parallel of resistances 8 ohms

and 12 ohms
respectively. The current in each branch is
(a) 6.4 A, 6.9 A
(b) 6.4 A, 9.6 A
(c) 4.6 A, 6.9 A
(d) 4.6 A, 9.6 A
Ans: b

15. A light bulb draws 300 mA when the

voltage across it is 240 V. The resistance of the
light bulb is
(a) 400 Q
(b) 600 Q

19. Current velocity through a copper

conductor is
(a) the same as propagation velocity of electric
energy
(b) independent of current strength
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CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

(c) of the order of a few ^.s/m
(d) nearly 3 x 108 m/s
Ans: c
20. Which of the following material has nearly
zero temperature co-efficient of resistance?
(a) Manganin
(b) Porcelain
(c) Carbon
(d) Copper
Ans: a
21. You have to replace 1500 Q resistor in
radio. You have no 1500 Q resistor but have
several 1000 Q ones which you would connect
(a) two in parallel
(b) two in parallel and one in series
(c) three in parallel
(d) three in series
Ans: b
22. Two resistors are said to be connected in
series when
(a) same current passes in turn through both
(b) both carry the same value of current
(c) total current equals the sum of branch
currents
(d) sum of IR drops equals the applied e.m.f.
Ans: a
23. Which of the following statement is true
both for a series and a parallel D.C. circuit?
(a) Elements have individual currents
(b) Currents are additive
(c) Voltages are additive
(d) Power are additive
Ans: d
24. Which of the following materials has a
negative temperature co-efficient of resistance?

(a) Copper
(b) Aluminium
(c) Carbon
(d) Brass
Ans: c
25. Ohms law is not applicable to
(a) vacuum tubes
(b) carbon resistors
(c) high voltage circuits
(d) circuits with low current densities
Ans: a
26. Which is the best conductor of electricity?
(a) Iron
(b) Silver
(c) Copper
(d) Carbon
Ans: b
27. For which of the following ampere second
could be the unit?
(a) Reluctance
(b) Charge
(c) Power
(d) Energy
Ans: b
28. All of the following are equivalent to watt
except
(a) (amperes) ohm
(b) joules/sec.
(c) amperes x volts
(d) amperes/volt
Ans: d
29. A resistance having rating 10 ohms, 10 W is
likely to be a
(a) metallic resistor
(b) carbon resistor
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CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

(c) wire wound resistor
(d) variable resistor
Ans: c
30. Which one of the following does not have
negative temperature co-efficient ?
(a) Aluminium
(b) Paper
(c) Rubber
(d) Mica
Ans: a
31. Varistors are
(a) insulators
(6) non-linear resistors
(c) carbon resistors
(d) resistors with zero temperature coefficient
Ans: b
32. Insulating materials have the function of
(a) preventing a short circuit between
conducting wires
(b) preventing an open circuit between the
voltage source and the load
(c) conducting very large currents
(d) storing very high currents
Ans: b
33. The rating of a fuse wire is always
expressed in
(a) ampere-hours
(b) ampere-volts
(c) kWh
(d) amperes
Ans: d
34. The minimum charge on an ion is
(a) equal to the atomic number of the atom
(b) equal to the charge of an electron
(c) equal to the charge of the number of

electrons in an atom (#) zero

Ans: b
35. In a series circuit with unequal resistances
(a) the highest resistance has the most of the
current through it
(b) the lowest resistance has the highest
voltage drop
(c) the lowest resistance has the highest
current
(d) the highest resistance has the highest
voltage drop
Ans: d
36. The filament of an electric bulb is made of
(a) carbon
(b) aluminium
(c) tungsten
(d) nickel
Ans: c
37. A 3 Q resistor having 2 A current will
dissipate the power of
(a) 2 watts
(b) 4 watts
(c) 6 watts
(d) 8 watts
Ans: c
38. Which of the following statement is true?
(a) A galvanometer with low resistance in
parallel is a voltmeter
(b) A galvanometer with high resistance in
parallel is a voltmeter
(c) A galvanometer with low resistance in
series is an ammeter
(d) A galvanometer with high resistance in
series is an ammeter
Ans: c

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CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

39. The resistance of a few meters of wire
conductor in closed electrical circuit is
(a) practically zero
(b) low
(c) high
(d) very high
Ans: a
40. If a parallel circuit is opened in the main

(d) None of the above

Ans: a
44. Two resistances Rl and Ri are connected in
series across the voltage source where Rl>Ri.
The largest drop will be across
(a) Rl
(b) Ri
(c) either Rl or Ri

line, the current

(a) increases in the branch of the lowest
resistance
(b) increases in each branch
(c) is zero in all branches
(d) is zero in the highest resistive branch
Ans: c

(d) none of them

Ans: a

41. If a wire conductor of 0.2 ohm resistance is

doubled in length, its resistance becomes
(a) 0.4 ohm
(b) 0.6 ohm
(c) 0.8 ohm
(d) 1.0 ohm
Ans: a

(b) 10 joules
(c) 15 joules
(d) 20 joules
Ans:

42. Three 60 W bulbs are in parallel across the

60 V power line. If one bulb burns open
(a) there will be heavy current in the main line
(b) rest of the two bulbs will not light
(c) all three bulbs will light
(d) the other two bulbs will light
Ans: d
43. The four bulbs of 40 W each are connected
in series swift a battery across them, which of
the following statement is true ?
(a) The current through each bulb in same
(b) The voltage across each bulb is not same
(c) The power dissipation in each bulb is not
same

45. What will be energy used by the battery if

the battery has to drive 6.28 x 1018 electrons
with potential difference of 20 V across the
terminal ?
(a) 5 joules

46. A closed switch has a resistance of

(a) zero
(b) about 50 ohms
(c) about 500 ohms
(d) infinity
Ans: a
47. The hot resistance of the bulbs filament is
higher than its cold resistance because the
temperature co-efficient of the filament is
(a) zero
(b) negative
(c) positive
(d) about 2 ohms per degree
Ans: c
48. Heat in a conductor is produced on the
passage of electric current due to
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CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

(a) reactance
(b) capacitance
(c) impedance
(d) resistance
Ans:
49. The insulation on a current carrying
conductor is provided
(a) to prevent leakage of current
(b) to prevent shock
(c) both of above factors
(d) none of above factors
Ans: c
50. The thickness of insulation provided on the
conductor depends on
(a) the magnitude of voltage on the conductor
(b) the magnitude of current flowing through it
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) none of the above
Ans: a
51. Which of the following quantities remain
the same in all parts of a series circuit ?
(a) Voltage
(b) Current
(c) Power
(d) Resistance
Ans: b
52. A 40 W bulb is connected in series with a
room heater. If now 40 W bulb is replaced by
100 W bulb, the heater output will
(a) decrease
(b) increase
(c) remain same
(d) heater will burn out
Ans: b

53. In an electric kettle water boils in 10 m

minutes. It is required to boil the boiler in 15
minutes, using same supply mains
(a) length of heating element should be
decreased
(b) length of heating element should be
increased
(c) length of heating element has no effect on
heating if water
(d) none of the above
Ans: a
54. An electric filament bulb can be worked
from
(a) D.C. supply only
(b) A.C. supply only
(c) Battery supply only
(d) All above
Ans: d
55. Resistance of a tungsten lamp as applied
voltage increases
(a) decreases
(b) increases
(c) remains same
(d) none of the above
Ans: b
56. Electric current passing through the circuit
produces
(a) magnetic effect
(b) luminous effect
(c) thermal effect
(d) chemical effect
(e) all above effects
Ans: c
57. Resistance of a material always decreases if
(a) temperature of material is decreased
(6) temperature of material is increased
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CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

(c) number of free electrons available become
more
(d) none of the above is correct
Ans: c
58. If the efficiency of a machine is to be high,
what should be low ?
(a) Input power
(b) Losses
(c) True component of power
(d) kWh consumed
(e) Ratio of output to input
Ans: b
59. When electric current passes through a
metallic conductor, its temperature rises. This
is due to
(a) collisions between conduction electrons
and atoms
(b) the release of conduction electrons from
parent atoms
(c) mutual collisions between metal atoms
(d) mutual collisions between conducting
electrons
Ans: a
60. Two bulbs of 500 W and 200 W rated at
250 V will have resistance ratio as
(a) 4 : 25
(b) 25 : 4
(c) 2 : 5
(d) 5 : 2
Ans: c

(d) it gives away positive charge

Ans: c
62. Whether circuit may be AC. or D.C. one,
following is most effective in reducing the
magnitude of the current.
(a) Reactor
(b) Capacitor
(c) Inductor
(d) Resistor
Ans: d
63. It becomes more difficult to remove
(a) any electron from the orbit
(6) first electron from the orbit
(c) second electron from the orbit
(d) third electron from the orbit
Ans: d
64. When one leg of parallel circuit is opened
out the total current will
(a) reduce
(b) increase
(c) decrease
(d) become zero
Ans: c
65. In a lamp load when more than one lamp
are switched on the total resistance of the load
(a) increases
(b) decreases
(c) remains same
(d) none of the above
Ans: b

61. A glass rod when rubbed with silk cloth is

charged because
(a) it takes in proton
(b) its atoms are removed
(c) it gives away electrons

66. Two lamps 100 W and 40 W are connected

in series across 230 V (alternating).
Which of the following statement is correct ?
(a) 100 W lamp will glow brighter
(b) 40 W lamp will glow brighter
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CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

(c) Both lamps will glow equally bright
(d) 40 W lamp will fuse
Ans: b

(c) series-parallel
(d) end-to-end
Ans: a

67. Resistance of 220 V, 100 W lamp will be

(a) 4.84 Q
(b) 48.4 Q
(c) 484 ft
(d) 4840 Q

72. For testing appliances, the wattage of test

lamp should be
(a) very low
(b) low
(c) high

Ans: c

(d) any value

Ans: c

68. In the case of direct current

(a) magnitude and direction of current remains
constant
(b) magnitude and direction of current changes
with time
(c) magnitude of current changes with time
(d) magnitude of current remains constant
Ans: a
69. When electric current passes through a
bucket full of water, lot of bubbling is observed.
This suggests that the type of supply is
(a) A.C.
(b) D.C.
(c) any of above two
(d) none of the above
Ans: b
70. Resistance of carbon filament lamp as the
applied voltage increases.
(a) increases
(b) decreases
(c) remains same
(d) none of the above
Ans: b
71. Bulbs in street lighting are all connected in
(a) parallel
(b) series

73. Switching of a lamp in house produces

noise in the radio. This is because switching
operation produces
(a) arcs across separating contacts
(b) mechanical noise of high intensity
(c) both mechanical noise and arc between
contacts
(d) none of the above
Ans: a
74. Sparking occurs when a load is switched off
because the circuit has high
(a) resistance
(b) inductance
(c) capacitance
(d) impedance
Ans: b
75. Copper wire of certain length and
resistance is drawn out to three times its length
without change in volume, the new resistance
of wire becomes
(a) 1/9 times
(b) 3 times
(e) 9 times
(d) unchanged
Ans: c

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CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

76. When resistance element of a heater fuses
and then we reconnect it after removing a
portion of it, the power of the heater will
(a) decrease
(b) increase
(c) remain constant
(d) none of the above
Ans: b

(d) 3 times
Ans: b

77. A field of force can exist only between

(a) two molecules
(b) two ions
(c) two atoms
(d) two metal particles
Ans: b

Ans: d

78. A substance whose molecules consist of

dissimilar atoms is called
(a) semi-conductor
(b) super-conducto
(c) compound
(d) insulator
Ans: c
79. International ohm is defined in terms of the
resistance of
(a) a column of mercury
(b) a cube of carbon
(c) a cube of copper
(d) the unit length of wire
Ans: a
80. Three identical resistors are first connected
in parallel and then in series.
The resultant resistance of the first
combination to the second will be
(a) 9 times
(b) 1/9 times
(c) 1/3 times

91. Which method can be used for absolute

measurement of resistances ?
(a) Lorentz method
(b) Releigh method
(c) Ohms law method
(d) Wheatstone bridge method

92. Three 6 ohm resistors are connected to

form a triangle. What is the resistance between
any two corners ?
(a) 3/2 Q
(b 6 Q
(c) 4 Q
(d) 8/3 Q
Ans: c
93. Ohms law is not applicable to
(a) semi-conductors
(b) D.C. circuits
(c) small resistors
(d) high currents
Ans: a
94. Two copper conductors have equal length.
The cross-sectional area of one conductor is
four times that of the other. If the conductor
having smaller cross-sectional area has a
resistance of 40 ohms the resistance of other
conductor will be
(a) 160 ohms
(b) 80 ohms
(c) 20 ohms
(d) 10 ohms
Ans: d

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CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

95. A nichrome wire used as a heater coil has
the resistance of 2 2/m. For a heater of 1 kW
at 200 V, the length of wire required will be
(a) 80 m
(b) 60 m
(c) 40 m
(d) 20 m
Ans: a

of the resistance
(c) resistance must be wire wound type
(d) temperature at positive end should be more
than the temperature at negative end
Ans: a

96. Temperature co-efficient of resistance is

expressed in terms of
(a) ohms/C
(b) mhos/ohmC
(e) ohms/ohmC
(d) mhos/C
Ans: c

conductivity is same as between that of a

conductor and an insulator
(b) A semi-conductor is a material which has
conductivity having average value of
conductivity of metal and insulator
(c) A semi-conductor is one which conducts
only half of the applied voltage
(d) A semi-conductor is a material made of

97. Which of the following materials has the

least resistivity ?
(a) Zinc
(b) Lead
(c) Mercury
(d) Copper
Ans:

alternate layers of conducting material and

insulator
Ans: a

98. When current flows through heater coil it

glows but supply wiring does not glow because
(a) current through supply line flows at slower
speed
(b) supply wiring is covered with insulation
layer
(c) resistance of heater coil is more than the
supply wires
(d) supply wires are made of superior material
Ans: c
99. The condition for the validity under Ohms
law is that
(a) resistance must be uniform
(b) current should be proportional to the size

100. Which of the following statement is

correct ?
(a) A semi-conductor is a material whose

101. A rheostat differs from potentiometer in

the respect that it
(a) has lower wattage rating
(b) has higher wattage rating
(c) has large number of turns
(d) offers large number of tapping
Ans: b
102. The weight of an aluminium conductor as
compared to a copper conductor of identical
cross-section, for the same electrical resistance,
is
(a) 50%
(b) 60%
(c) 100%
(d) 150%
Ans: a

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CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

103. An open resistor, when checked with an
ohm-meter reads
(a) zero
(b) infinite
(c) high but within tolerance
(d) low but not zero
Ans: b

108. The ratio of mass of proton to that of

electron is nearly
(a) 1840
(b) 1840
(c) 30
(d) 4
Ans: a

104. are the materials having electrical

109. The number of electrons in the outer most

conductivity much less than most of the metals

but much greater than that of typical
insulators.
(a) Varistors
(b) Thermistor
(c) Semi-conductors
(d) Variable resistors
Ans: c

orbit of carbon atom is

(a) 3
(b) 4
(c) 6
(d) 7
Ans: b
110. With three resistances connected in

105. All good conductors have high

(a) conductance
(b) resistance
(c) reluctance
(d) thermal conductivity
Ans: a

parallel, if each dissipates 20 W the total power

supplied by the voltage source equals
(a) 10 W
(b) 20 W
(c) 40 W
(d) 60 W
Ans: d

106. Voltage dependent resistors are usually

111. A thermistor has

made from
(a) charcoal
(b) silicon carbide
(c) nichrome
(d) graphite
Ans: c

(a) positive temperature coefficient

(b) negative temperature coefficient
(c) zero temperature coefficient
(d) variable temperature coefficient
Ans: c

107. Voltage dependent resistors are used

(a) for inductive circuits
(6) to supress surges
(c) as heating elements
(d) as current stabilizers
Ans: b

112. If/, R and t are the current, resistance and

time respectively, then according to Joules law
heat produced will be proportional to
(a) I2Rt
(b) I2Rf
(c) I2R2t
(d) I2R2t*
Ans: a
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CURRENT ELECTRICITY MCQS

113. Nichrome wire is an alloy of
(a) lead and zinc
(b) chromium and vanadium
(c) nickel and chromium
(d) copper and silver
Ans: c

118. One newton meter is same as

(a) one watt
(b) one joule
(c) five joules
(d) one joule second
Ans: b

114. When a voltage of one volt is applied, a

circuit allows one micro ampere current to
flow through it. The conductance of the circuit
is
(a) 1 n-mho
(b) 106 mho
(c) 1 milli-mho
(d) none of the above
Ans: a
115. Which of the following can have negative
temperature coefficient ?
(a) Compounds of silver
(6) Liquid metals
(c) Metallic alloys
(d) Electrolytes
Ans: d
116. Conductance : mho ::
(a) resistance : ohm
(b) capacitance : henry
(c) inductance : farad
(d) lumen : steradian
Ans: a
117. 1 angstrom is equal to
(a) 10-8 mm
(6) 106 cm
(c) 1010 m
(d) 10~14 m
Ans: c

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